Let’s hope this doesn’t happen:
In what could be a Sunshine State one-two punch, multiple Republican sources are confirming that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) is giving serious consideration to running for Senate – and that Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) is contemplating resigning from his seat before his term is up next year.
Martinez has already announced he will not run for re-election when his first term expires in 2010. Crist, according to sources, has had multiple serious conversations about running for Senate with both Martinez and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas). […]
Sources say most Republicans are waiting on the sidelines because they want to see what Crist does before jumping into the Senate race, and explain further that Sink could be eyeing an open gubernatorial seat in 2010, when Crist’s first term is up.
Wow, okay. So are we to believe that Martinez will bail early and that Crist would appoint himself to the Senate? Martinez’s people are staying mum for now, only saying that the Senator “looks forward to serving out the rest of his term” (hardly a lock-solid promise to stay), and then we have this from Florida GOP Chair Jim Greer:
“A self-appointment — that’s not Charlie Crist. He has far too much appreciation for the electorate to appoint himself to the Senate,” said Greer.
Okay… but what about this scenario (again, from Roll Call):
Florida’s lieutenant governor is a Republican and would appoint Martinez’s successor if he and Crist both resign prematurely.
In other words, a self-appointment in all but name. Pretty skeezy, huh?
Of course, this is all speculative, and I hope that Kraushaar is onto something when his Florida GOP contacts tell him that the possibility of a Crist Senate bid is “remote”. In any event, Greer says that Crist won’t make a decision until the end of the state’s legislative session in May — at the earliest.
If he’s elevated to Governor Alex Sink will run in 2010 andl ikely beat him.
If Crist runs for Senate, then presumably Sink runs for Governor and is at least a 50-50 shot. Florida governor would give us a seat at the table in 2010 redistricting and we’re very underrepresented in FL because of R gerrymandering, not to mention the many other advantages of having the governership. Seems like FL governor is at least as valuable as one FL senate seat.
I’m trying to determine the new PVIs of some congressional districts but having trouble with the exact mathematical formula for making the calculation. Anyone know the exact formula?
Cillizza is also on it.
http://voices.washingtonpost.c…
Personally, I don’t get why Crist would do this. The reasons cited in the link seem tenuous at best. I would think governor is the better path to a succesful run for the presidency but maybe Obama has changed that equation.
Crist becoming a senator may be the ‘best’ outcome, all things considered.
Now, I don’t consider myself an expert (or even that knowledgeable) about Florida politics, but I’ll give my two cents anyway.
Crist is known as a moderate GOPer and is definitely among the most moderate GOP governors in the country (behind maybe the Governator and Northeasterners) and would continue that legacy in the Senate. There is no doubt he has Presidential ambitions (why else would he marry? lol kidding) and I tend to see a governor slot as more promising. In the Senate, he would be as moderate as ‘allowed’, but would be forced to choose between obstructionism (and kill his chances to be Pres. maybe) or be a deal maker along the lines of Collins, Specter, and my favorite, Snowe.
If he runs for Senate, and he will win if he does, we have a great chance at getting the governorship. With Meek and others already in the Senate race, Sink would be a give-in, assuming she wants it (which she clearly does since she gave up the chance to run for Senate). It would be her versus some unknown republican at this point (I honestly have no clue), but she is known to do well in the northern part of the state.
If he does not run, then I wish the best to Meek (most likely to win at this point), but I hope Mayor Iorio gets in to test her hand in bigger politics
I think the rule permits only 2 consecutive terms, with no limit on the number of lifetime terms. If this is correct, and if Bush is interested in being Governor again, it could explain why Crist is being mentioned for Senate now. It is difficult to imagine Republicans intentionally creating a tossup race for Governor right before redistricting.
if i ever did see one.
as i’ve lectured so often, when the very popular governor wendy anderson appointed himself senator (actually resigned and was appointed by Lieutenent Gov Perpich) in 1976 to replace walter mondale, it caused such revulsion that the electorate voted out both democratic senators and the governor in 1978 in MN. i pray that crist would be stupid enough to do that now.
and yes the governor’s seat is much more valuable than the senate seat and we could get a heavyweight to run for governor.
and of course, meek could certainly win the senate seat as well in such a scenario.
i can’t believe there could be a shred of truth in this.
That way, we have a shot at the governorship, which is worth probably 5 house seats or more from redistricting. And Crist isn’t that bad. In the senate he’d probably vote with us on the environmental issues.
Just appoint a caretaker and run in a 2010 open election. A little bit sleezy still…since hed be sacrificing seniority for his own political gain…but its much better than appointing himself or having his Lt. Gov. do it. Maybe fellow Tampa-area Republican Bill Young would be willing. Though isnt he at the top of Appropriations? Thats hard to give up but the guy will be like 80 come Nov. 2010 anyway. I doubt he he wants to be around the House much longer and the Senate would be a good way to cap off a very, very long career.